ROCKY RIVER --
There are games every year when one player picks up a team and carries them to a victory. Often it is a dynamic pitching performance. Other times it comes from a position player who has an outstanding day at the plate.

Yesterday, with temperatures in the low 30s, junior Alex Robinson (W, 1-0) wasn’t content to just dominate the Fairview offense from the mound. He also wreaked havoc on the Warrior pitching staff, knocking the Fairview hurlers around for two extra base hits and five RBIs.

Lutheran West fell behind early 1-0 when Robinson gave up a pair of singles in the first. In the second, he flirted with danger, loading the bases on a single and a pair of walks, but worked out of the jam. After a leadoff four pitch walk to start the third inning, Robinson settled down and cruised the rest of the game, retiring 12 of the final 14 hitters he faced. Robinson threw 50 pitches in the first two innings, and only 51 in his final four frames.

Robinson started the scoring for the Longhorns when he knocked in sophomore Rory Zakareckis with a one out single to right in the bottom of the second to tie the game at one. West took the lead in the third when sophomore Matt Brosky singled home sophomore Owen Albers and Zakareckis plated senior Tommy Walker with an RBI ground out to put the Longhorns up 3-1.

The flood gates opened in the fifth when four walks led to five runs. The big blow came from Robinson with a two-out three-run double over the head of the right fielder near the line. That put the Longhorns up 8-1.

West would tally their final run in the sixth when Robinson hit a two-out double to left field to drive in Brosky. Robinson finished the day 3 for 4 with five RBIs. Brosky had three singles and an RBI and scored two runs.

The Longhorns look to sweep the season series from the Warriors when they make the long trek to Bohlken Park on Wednesday after school. Game time is set for 4:30pm.